Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Posted on: January 7, 2012 1:20 pm

Edited on: January 24, 2012 8:49 pm

Ryan Braun will be coming to the Baseball Writers dinner Jan. 21 to pick up his National League MVP award. At least that’s what we hear. His position is that he did nothing wrong, and thus, has nothing to hide.

We hope that’s right. And maybe it is. Everyone should be presumed innocent. And in this case, we’re talking about a player who has been seen for a while as one of the brightest lights in the game, both on and off the field. Additionally, it shouldn’t even be known yet that he failed a test for a banned substance.

The Brewers star is the first major league player to have his confidentiality breached. So maybe he becomes the first to win a hearing and save himself the 50 games suspension (although, that part won’t be easy).

Braun certainly has expressed a lot of belief in his own innocence in the brief comments he’s made publicly, including one in which he said, “It’s BS.’’ It’s too bad that’s about all we’ve heard from Braun, as he is one of the most articulate players in the game. We will assume that he’s probably saving his best material for the hearing.

But what will he say then? Word around the game is that he will press “multiple issues,’’ including the testing process itself. That’s good. Because to win the case, he has to point out a flaw in the system.

One thing he is expected to point to is the test claim of a bizarrely high spike in testosterone, which was apparently something like three times what’s been seen before; it will likely to be argued that it must therefore be caused by testing error. Braun obviously passed all the tests before this one, and he passed a subsequent test he ordered upon learning about the failed one a couple weeks after taking the original sometime in early October when his Brewers team was just embarking on the playoffs.

No one has done it at the major league level yet, but one minor leaguer won enough benefit of doubt in a hearing to win his case. (We don’t know who that is because his confidentiality wasn’t breached.) Braun will try to become the first at a hearing that ix expected to be just after that BBWAA dinner, Jan. 23 or 24, according to Lance Allen of WTMJ-4 in Milwaukee.

It sounds like Braun may try a number of avenues here, including the possibility that a medication to combat a private medical issue is to blame, as TMZ initially reported. But while that argument could win some points with the public, that isn’t going to win the day, or the hearing.

Baseball deserves credit for giving players a chance at a hearing (unlike the NFL). But it’s still considered a “strict liability’’ situation, which means it’s up to Braun to prove he’s been somehow wronged. He’s enlisted top people (both for p.r. and legal help), and that’s a good thing because everyone deserves their day in court. Braun should get his.

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Braun obviously passed all the tests before this one, and he passed a subsequent test he ordered upon learning about the failed one a couple weeks after taking the original sometime in early October - All of you haters will see that he's innocent in the end.

Since: Mar 26, 2008

Posted on: January 8, 2012 9:47 am

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

You know, the burden of these test results rest on the players. Knowing that, you'd think players would be smarter. Taking supplements or medication before checking out to see if it will blow up the test results is just plain stupid when you're career is on the line. Of course, the article doesn't say how long Braun was taking this "medication" for a private health condition (which it should be, private), but if he was taking the medication while he wasn't blowing up prior test results, he has no case. And if he didn't stop taking it and the subsequent test came up OK, then he has no case. At the end of the day, players need to be held responsible. Besides the integrity to the game factor, there's a lot of money being heaped on these guys. It sure is enough incentive to lead them to cheat. And as a whole, we aren't too lenient (or shouldn't be) on cheaters. Don't tell me what a great guy Ryan Braun is. If he cheated, he needs to pay the price. And frankly, 50 games is too lenient. It should immediately end your career. Once that happens and someone becomes an example, most players won't risk it. The only thing I'll give Braun here is that if the results weren't supposed to be reported in public and they were, then it sucks for him. But he isn't the only guy who has said, "I didn't do it". Remember, Big Papi, Rafael Palmeiro, etc.

Since: Jan 23, 2010

Posted on: January 8, 2012 8:31 am

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

can't believe the pass this guy is gettin' in comparison to other cheaters

Since: Jan 12, 2008

Posted on: January 8, 2012 2:35 am

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

I've read several articles that named Brendan Katin as the minor leaguer who got his positive test overturned.

Since: Dec 1, 2006

Posted on: January 8, 2012 1:18 am

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Unfortunately, innocent until proven guilty doesn't apply here. He failed the test. He's been punished. He's guilty in the eyes of baseball and the burden of proof is on him to be innocent. This isn't a court of law.

Oh, and Jon, it's called spell check.

Since: Sep 19, 2011

Posted on: January 8, 2012 12:39 am

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Ryan Braun cheated and is only pissed becasue he got caught. Kind of reminds me of Barry Bonds and (sadly) Roger Clemmons. All 3 are liars and nobody will ever think otherwise nor should they!

Ok I could see your point about Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds being liars, Barry I think was on steriods for an couple of years but I find hard to believe that he unknowingly used the Cream and the clear. For Roger Clemens I have doubt since Canseco and McNamee made alleges that Roger Clemens used steroids, at first McNamee was saying that he has no knowledge of steroid use by Clemens. But McNamee change his story change his story after Clemens fired him, now if there were more proof then Canseco and NaNamee then I would believe Clemens used steriods.

I can't wait to Braun hearing is over with, then we know if he is innocent or guilty. But I have a feeling that even if he is found Innocent that lot people would still believe that he has cheated, but that is public opinion which is not always based on fact.

Since: Nov 2, 2007

Posted on: January 7, 2012 11:41 pm

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Yes kind of like if you get pulled over by a cop and blow the highest blood alcohol level (BAL) ever and nailed w/ a DUI? Great chance you knocked a few back.

This comparison would be more accurate if you blew a 0 directly before the failed test, then proceeded to blow a 0 immediately after the failed test.

Since: Sep 26, 2011

Posted on: January 7, 2012 11:20 pm

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Smackdown24

Because we don't know the facts. Ever heard of innocent until proven guilty. Apparently Not!!!! If u were committed of a crime that u didn't do and everyone presumed you were guilty would that be fair? Probably Not.

Yes kind of like if you get pulled over by a cop and blow the highest blood alcohol level (BAL) ever and nailed w/ a DUI? Great chance you knocked a few back.

Since: Feb 21, 2011

Posted on: January 7, 2012 10:53 pm

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Because we don't know the facts. Ever heard of innocent until proven guilty. Apparently Not!!!! If u were committed of a crime that u didn't do and everyone presumed you were guilty would that be fair? Probably Not.

Since: Sep 26, 2011

Posted on: January 7, 2012 10:43 pm

Braun will press multiple issues and test itself

Thespokenword

Why is Braun getting the benefit of the doubt from much of the public and media when guys like Manny and Bonds were raked over the coals almost immediately upon speculation of their PED use? Interesting.

Because he is the Hebrew Hammer. They are always the victims remember?